Australian States Population Stats

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https://www.abs.gov.au /AUSSTATS/ TABLE 1.1. Population by sex, states and territories, 31 December 1788 onwards - 23 May 2014

Estimates in 2024 based on www.abs.gov.au and www.population.net.au

• NSW population in 1825 was 38,000 residents, with most still living in Sydney.
   
  • in 1836 it was 77,000 residents with as many as 14,000 children under 12 years of age.
    Convict transportation ceased in 1840.
  • in 1880 population was 750,000,
  • in 1887 1 million,
  • in 1919 2 million,
  • in 1947 3 million,
  • in 1962 4 million,
  • in 1977 5 million,
  • in 1994 6 million,
  • in 2009 7 million, and
  • currently in 2024 8.4 million with an estimated 6½ million living in greater Sydney.
    Newcastle, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 475,000.

   

• Victoria's population in 1851 when it separated from NSW was 97,000 residents.

  With the gold rush, the population doubled the following year.
   

  • in 1859 500,000,
  • in 1880 850,000,
  • in 1887 1 million but growth was now slowing,
  • in 1945 2 million,
  • in 1962 3 million,
  • in 1982 4 million,
  • in 2005 5 million and
  • currently in 2024 6.8 million with an estimated 5.8 million living in greater Melbourne.
    Geelong, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 207,000.

   

• * Queensland's population in 1859 when it received self-government and its own immigration rules was 24,000 with one quarter living in Brisbane,
   
  • in 1868 100,000,
  • in 1901 500,000.
  • in 1938 1 million,
  • in 1974 2 million,
  • in 1992 3 million,
  • in 2006 4 million, and
  • currently in 2024 5.5 million with an estimated 2.5 million living in greater Brisbane (which includes the cities of Ipswich and Logan).
    Gold Coast, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 690,000.

   

• South Australia's immigration policy as a free province started with 3,000 in 1837,
   
  • 6,000 in 1838,
  • 50,000 in 1849,
  • 100,000 in 1856,
  • 200,000 in 1874,
  • 300,000 in 1883,
  • 400,000 in 1910,
  • 500,000 in 1921,
  • 1 million in 1963, and
  • currently in 2024 1.8 million with an estimated 1.5 million living in greater Adelaide.
    Mount Gambier, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 28,000.

   

• West Australia had slow growth. In 1851 it was 7,000,
   
  • 20,000 in 1864,
  • 50,000 in 1891 when it received self-government and its own immigration policy,
  • 100,000 in 1895,
  • 200,000 in 1902,
  • 300,000 in 1912,
  • 400,000 in 1928,
  • 500,000 in 1947,
  • 1 million in 1970,
  • 2 million in 2005, and
  • currently in 2024 3 million with an estimated 2.7 million living in greater Perth (which includes the city of Mandurah).
    Bunbury, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 90,000.

   

• Tasmania is our smallest state. In 1825 it was 14,000 when it became an independent convict colony. Transportation ceased in 1852.
   
  • 77,000 in 1856 when it received self-government,
  • 100,000 in 1870,
  • 200,000 in 1918,
  • 300,000 in 1951,
  • 400,000 in 1972,
  • 500,000 in 2008, and
  • currently in 2024 573,000 with an estimated 270,000 living in greater Hobart.
    Launceston, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 66,000.

   

• Northern Territory's earliest census in 1911 showed just 3,000 white residents,
   
  • in 1943 10,000,
  • in 1957 20,000,
  • in 1961 25,000, then
  • in 1962 with the inclusion of indigenous residents, its population became 45,000,
  • in 1970 80,000,
  • in 1985 150,000, and
  • currently in 2024 252,000 with an estimated 170,000 living in greater Darwin.
    Alice Springs, its second biggest city, has an estimated population of 33,000.

   

• Lastly the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)'s earliest census in 1911 showed 2,000 residents. Parliament House opened in 1927, but growth was slow.
   
  • in 1936 10,000,
  • in 1949 20,000,
  • in 1960 50,000,
  • in 1967 100,000,
  • in 1975 200,000, and
  • currently in 2024 469,000.

* Queensland breakdown of cities 1901-2018

1901 City Country Total
1933 City Country Total
1981 City Country Total
1991 City Country Total
1996 City Country Total
2018 City Country Total

2021 census (Click here for Wikipedia breakdown) of Significant Urban Areas

• Brisbane * GCCSA 2,526,238
• Bundaberg 73,747
• Cairns 153,425
• Caloundra/Sunshine Coast **382,903
• .
• Charters Towers 8,040
• Gladstone-Tannum Sands 45,185
• Gold Coast 693,596
• Gympie 22,424
• .
• Hervey Bay 57,722
• Mackay 84,333
• Maryborough 27,489
• Mount Isa 18,317
• .
• Rockhampton 79,293
• Toowoomba 142,163
• Townsville 179,011
• Warwick 15,525

  Other Urban areas with more than 10,000 residents in 2021

• Yeppoon 20,244
• Airlie Beach / Proserpine 14,523
• Emerald 14,089
• Kingaroy 10,545

* Brisbane GCCSA Greater Capital City Statistical Area. Since 1971, Greater Brisbane has steadily stretched to a distance of 200 kms that now includes Brisbane north to Caboolture and Kilcoy, west to Laidley and Esk, south to Boonah, Beaudesert and Beenleigh, but excluding the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

Local Govt Areas are: Brisbane City (from Eight Mile Plains in the south to Aspley in the north) 1.23 million, Moreton Bay Region (Strathpine, Redcliffe and Caboolture in the north) 460 thousand, Redlands in the east 160 thousand, Logan in the south 320 thousand, Ipswich in the west 210 thousand, Somerset (Esk) in the west north-west 25 thousand, Lockyer Valley (Gatton, Laidley) in the west south-west 40 thousand, and Scenic Rim (Beaudesert) in the south-west 40 thousand.

** In 2008 the city of Caloundra merged with the shire of Maroochy to form the Sunshine Coast region. While the shire of Noosa was temporarily part of this amalgamation, following a referendum, the shire of Noosa was re-established in 2014. However, Noosa is included in the above figure.

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